He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother)

The time had come. M, P's brother was to leave for France to continue his studies and whatever else it is he's doing within the Catholic order. He came a few years ago, new to New York and even lived with us for a year. We had so many great times with him here. And we began our journey at the Savoia Restaurant on Smith Street, where we welcomed him and shared the best brick oven pizza and appetizers.

It became a bit of a tradition to come to this inviting, warm spot to talk and share with M. This time it was to be the last time. For a very long while at least if ever again.

M's super easy to be around and doesn't like speaking much about himself so thoughts and conversation always seem to drift back to us. As a matter of fact M himself might have a gift of mirroring as I call it. Instead of ever being able to focus on him, he always mirrors your self image back to you. It's kind of incredible. As if to say whatever questions you're looking for in him, you need to find in yourself. It's brilliant actually and true. But in addition to that M is a funny, interesting, smart genuine human being that is the best pizza eating partner.

We had three pizza's, the Quattro Stagioni - tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichokes, black olives, ham, mushrooms,the Paesana - tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage scallions, black olives and roasted peppers and the Krotone-tomato sauce, hot soppressata, spinach, mushrooms, onion and mozzarella. These were great! But the real stars that night for me was the appetizer, the Mushroom And Fontina Cheese Bruschette. And the dessert which I can't remember the names now but the white one was one of those roll-your-eyes-back-its-so-good type desserts. I blacked out a second during the conversation falling completely in love with this cream, dreamy combo. The little cookies on the side MUST have been made from the gods. A fitting Bon Voyage for M.

I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was In

We took M to our favorite brick oven pizza restaurant, Savoia on Smith Street in Brooklyn. We wanted to check in on him, see if things were going well, if he needed any support and generally just to visit. Its always seemed a little arrogant to me to assume you could hold any answers to another man's life. I either cherish or resent any advice people give me. I think the main gift is just to let them know you want to help, that you care.

The night was chilly so being seated next to the warm brick oven felt special and inviting. I love a restaurant with dim lighting, candlelit tables like this one. This allows the romance with my food to fully bloom.

I screwed up and didn't get pics of the amazing appetizers. Firstly, mussels steamed in garlic sauce and a big basket of assorted breads with olive oil. Secondly, was the grass-fed beef carpaccio with arugula, shaved parmigiano and yellow roasted peppers. That was special.

The pizzas we'd split were the Quattro Stagioni; tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichokes, black olives, ham, mushrooms and the Frigitella; mozzarella, broccoli rabe, sausage, crushed chilli pepper and parmigiano. These were each so individually delicious.

For dessert we'd share a lemon custard tart and tiramisu which was not typical or ordinary at all. It was the kind you wanted to crawl in and eat your way out of.

The thing about M is that you may start out to check on him but he always somehow becomes the mirror facing back at you. You look and see that it isn't about figuring out the future or any silly particulars that we have little control of anyway. Just the fact that you are seeing a live friendly face staring back at you is proof enough that all is always as it should be. The important time is now.

Damn that food was good.

I get pie with a little help from my friends

Once in a blue moon P takes me to a public place. Actually I should say once in a blue moon we take a friend or relative out to brunch and I get to play like its a date. But hey, I'm not complaining at all because I enjoy getting to complain later that we never go anywhere. Just kidding. No I'm not. I'm just happy to be eating great pizza. Brick Oven Pizza from Savoia on Smith Street. I like this place a lot. Most times its really special. It feels vibrant in there and we always feel like we went somewhere. The atmosphere pulls you out of the norm. Seeing the big brick oven in back is very comforting and warming in the winter too.

I brought my camera but being a knucklehead that I am I took no pictures of the three great pizzas that we ordered. I was so excited to be out of the house and talking like a real human that I lost my mind. I did however get a pic of this coat on the ground off Atlantic Avenue as we walked home. This coat looked like it could tell an interesting story if it could talk. But it just laid there unable to say a thing.



We ordered the Paesana, the Quatro Stagioni and the Campagnola. Favorite was definitely the Paesana but if I weren't so hungry I would have definitely savored the wild mushroom on the Campagnola because there were some amazing subtle flavors there. Sausage is like the tall blond in the room as opposed to the sweet short brown haired girl, which would be the mushrooms and cheese, no red sauce. You really are drawn straight to the blond. The Quatro Stagioni was delicious too with ham, artichokes and black olives. I would say the red head with high heels. You end up grazing on the crust between pieces until its gone because its so amazing.

In order to ward off mid-morning hunger I made toasted wheat bagels with whipped cream cheese, onion and tomatoes. mmmm....

Thank goodness for P, Italians, pizza, friends, happenstance, blonds and the wisdom to know the difference. There's some kind of joke in there.

But take cash to Savoia unless you have American Express because they don't take Visa.